Embodied GHG Emissions of Wooden Buildings – Challenges of Biogenic Carbon Accounting in Current LCA Methods

The article Embodied GHG Emissions of Wooden Buildings—Challenges of Biogenic Carbon Accounting in Current LCA Methods reviews the complexities and challenges associated with life cycle assessment (LCA) methods for accounting biogenic carbon in wooden buildings. It systematically examines 79 case studies on wooden buildings and identifies methodological inconsistencies that lead to significant variations in embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The study emphasizes the need for transparency and conformity in biogenic carbon accounting and highlights the superiority of the dynamic LCA method in addressing timing and biogenic carbon flows throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Key Takeaways

• LCA Method Variations: Embodied GHG emissions results from wooden buildings vary significantly depending on the LCA approach used, with dynamic LCA providing more accurate results compared to static methods.
• Biogenic Carbon Accounting: Many studies fail to specify how biogenic carbon is treated, leading to inconsistencies and underreported emissions in some cases.
• Impact of Building Materials: Wooden buildings can have 30% to 60% lower embodied GHG emissions than conventional materials, but accurate LCA methods are critical for reflecting their true environmental benefits.

How It Can Help You

This study is essential for LCA practitioners, architects, and policymakers seeking to:

• Understand how different LCA methods affect the assessment of biogenic carbon in wooden buildings.
• Identify the benefits and limitations of using wood in construction projects concerning embodied GHG emissions.
• Make informed decisions on the adoption of the dynamic LCA method for more transparent and reliable carbon accounting.

Key Learnings

1. Dynamic LCA Importance: The dynamic LCA approach, which factors in the timing of carbon sequestration and release, provides a more accurate portrayal of wooden building emissions compared to traditional static methods.
2. Need for Standardization: There is a strong need for standardized methods in biogenic carbon accounting to enhance comparability and accuracy across wooden building LCA studies.
3. Environmental Potential of Wood: Wooden buildings can offer significant reductions in embodied GHG emissions, but only when the correct LCA methods are applied, ensuring that the biogenic carbon impact is fully accounted for.

Date: August 2021